Twin Engine upsets Lucy's Bob Boy in Blue Ridge Handicap

Penn National shipper Twin Engine made up a 3 1/2-length deficit in the stretch and survived a stewards’ inquiry and jockey objection to win Thursday night’s $30,000 Blue Ridge Handicap at Charles Town. The big news, however, was the off-the-board finish by West Virginia-bred star Lucy’s Bob Boy.

The 6-year-old Lucy’s Bob Boy was sent off as the 4-5 favored and attracted all but about $8,000 of the $84,000 in the show pool. He had won 22 of 29 starts locally and finished worse than second only three times.

When Lucy’s Bob Boy faded to seventh, his worst finish since he was eased in last April’s Charles Town Classic, it resulted in skewed payoffs for show. Twin Engine, ridden by Carlos Castro for trainer Dimitrios Synnefias, paid $21.40 to win but $42.60 to show. The runner-up, Missilewhileuwork, who led until the final furlong at 42-1, paid a whopping $111 to show. Third-place finisher Let’s Get Crackin returned $30.60 to show.

Twin Engine, winning for the first time since he was claimed on behalf of Blackjack Stable for $25,000 at Keeneland last October, ran seven furlongs in 1:27.59 to win the race by 1 1/4 lengths.

There was an inquiry and a claim of foul by the rider of fourth-place finisher In the Fairway, alleging interference by Twin Engine coming out of the starting gate, but no change was made in the order of finish.